Organization

Clutter:

Our discomfort in small and tight spaces where none of our possessions seem to ever find their place is a concern that will linger around as long as our stuff does. Feeling eternally cramped will not just remain a purely aesthetic concern but will have an impact on our well being and balance, as well.

Clutter, which is often a result of a small living space is also its number one enemy and a significant source of stress to all who live in it. It plays a major role not only in how we feel about our home and our workplace but also in how we feel about ourselves. Disarray and chaos in our space leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. It’s therefore vital to find some cunning ways to keep the mess at a minimum or better yet eliminate it altogether. And it is possible!

Each item comprising the whole of our possessions has its own “life cycle” independent of our lives. We are simply the keepers for our items as long as we need, use, or love them. However, after that time has passed, it is our responsibility to identify these items and donate, recycle, or pass them on someplace where they can be used and appreciated again. Going through our stuff and identifying what we don’t need, use, or love is a lot like giving our home a facial.

We all have stuff laying around that we don’t need nor use and often don’t even know we own until perhaps an overloaded shelf caves in. Bless the moments when your cupboards give out under the bearing pressure of ‘you don’t know what’ because the moment your mess becomes visible, it becomes easier to identify and to dispose of. Since you’ve never missed it while it was collecting dust, you won’t miss it when it’s properly disposed of.

Doing the ‘Clean Sweep’ means grabbing a garbage bag and touring your house for trash that can be disposed without the need for any consults or decision-making. Happy meal surprises, grocery bags, unmated socks, broken kitchen tools, expired foods, outdated lists, dried out markers and broken picture frames are among the suitable candidates. You’ll fill your bag in no time –and when you do- toss it! Repeat this exercise on a regular basis.

Once you get the ball rolling and you realize you just might have a chance at a beautiful home without baggage, you will find it easier to continue, and the momentum will prepare you to deal with items that are not necessarily considered clutter. Clutter is anything that doesn’t belong in the space it is in – whether that is because it belongs somewhere else in your home or doesn’t belong in your home any longer. Keep decluttering! Regular “exfoliations” control clutter and highlight what you don’t want to acquire in the future. Don’t focus your energy on the items you need to get rid of, focus your energy on the items you get to keep in an organized space, a space where you can actually see them.

The most difficult part of the entire organizing process which in itself is physically and mentally draining, is getting rid of stuff you feel emotionally attached to. Whether these are grandma’s dishes, the stub of a concert ticket or any kind of collections, or the skinny jeans you used to fit into a decade ago, always remember that you can “ditch” the item without ditching the memory. Your space restrictions refrain you from physically storing them but you can take photos and keep treasuring their memory. It requires a change of perception – but it’s a great compromise.

There are lots of excuses you could think of to weasel your way out of organizing your space and if you validate them, your clutter gets the better of you. A clutter-free home lets you focus on the more enjoyable aspects of your home and what is has to offer you. Get ready to feel the roominess. Restore the flow of positive energy. It feels genuinely refreshing. A cleaned and organized room feels new, spacious and peaceful— not to mention fully functional.